Doughnut flipper for doughnut machines



Feb. 27, 1951 E. J. DUVAL DOUGHNUT FLIPPER FOR DOUGHNUT MACHINES Filed Dec. 20, 1946 A X KW M m0 K N m wi 1 Patented Feb. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,543,403 DOUGHNU'I FLIPPER FOR DOUGHNUT MACHINES Eugene Joseph Duval, New Bedford, Mass, as-

signor to Joseph P. Duchaine, doing business as My Bread Baking 00., New Bedford, Mass.

Application December 20, 1946, Serial No. 717,383

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in doughnut flippers for doughnut machines.

The new and improved flipper is characterized by a shaft intended to be rotatively supported with its axis substantially level with the surface of the liquid used to cook doughnuts in a doughnut machine. A tubular-like grid, to avoid making waves in the frying liquid, is mounted on said shaft and is provided with wire tubular sections extending longitudinally of said shaft through which doughnuts floating on said liquid may be channeled. It is proposed that the shaft be periodically turned for flipping the doughnuts in said tubular sections.

It is proposed that the new doughnut flipper be synchronized with a doughnut machine and automatically periodically turned 180 by a minute timing device, preferably completely independent of the doughnut conveyors, making it suitable for all style doughnuts. It is proposed that the flipper be arranged in the line of discharge of the doughnuts from the doughnut machine so that they enter one of the tubular sections. However, each time that the flipper turns 180 a difierent one of the sections will be in line with the discharge of the doughnuts. In this way the tubular sections are filled with doughnuts and automatically discharged.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a device as described which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a doughnut flipper constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

The new doughnut flipper, in accordance with this invention, includes a shaft l adapted to be rotatively supported with its aXis substantially level with the surface of the liquid used to cook doughnuts in a doughnut machine. In Fig. 2

the vessel which holds the liquid is schematically indicated by reference numeral l I, the liquid by numeral l2, and its surface by numeral l3. The shaft it may be rotatively supported by a suitable bracket I4 schematically shown in Fig. 1 as connected with one end of the shaft. The

2 other end of the shaft to is connected with and supported by a drive [5, also schematically indicated.

A tubular grid i6 is mounted upon the shaft l0 and is provided with tubular sections l1 and [8 which extend longitudinally of the shaft l0 through which doughnuts floating on said liquid 52 may be channeled. The tubular sections I1 and I8 are set from each other. They have flat sides 19 and 20, respectively, for engaging against the doughnuts when flipping them.

The tubular-like grid l6 includes a pair of blocks 22 and 23 fixedly mounted on the shaft [0 with set screws 24 which engage grooves 25 formed on the shaft [0. Strips 26 are mounted between said blocks 22 and 23. Gratings are mounted on the strips 26. These gratings consist of a plurality of loop-like wires 21 which are parallel to each other. Each of the wires 21 is bent around into a loop formation and has one of its ends welded to one of the strips 26 and its other end welded to the other strip 26. The loop-like wires 27 have straight sides forming the straight sides l9 and 20 of the tubular portions l1 and I8. The parallel loop-like wires 21 are tied together with tie rods 28 which are welded in position. It should be noted that one set of the loop-like wires 21 form the tubular section I! and another set of the loop-like wires 21 form the tubular section I8.

On the drawing the dot and dash circles 30 schematically indicate doughnuts floating on the liquid [2. The arrow 3! schematically indicates the discharge of doughnuts from the doughnut machine (not illustrated) for entering the flipper. The arrow 32 indicates the line of discharge of the doughnuts from the flipper.

The operation of the doughnut flipper may be understood from the following:

Periodically, the shaft I0 is turned 180. The doughnuts 30 which are channeled in the tubular sections I! and 18 will be flipped around. The tubular-like wire sections I1 and I8 avoid making waves in the frying liquid. The shaft [0 turns counter-clockwise, indicated by the arrow 33 in Fig. 2. When a doughnut 30 is forced into the flipper in the direction indicated by the arrow 31, another doughnut will be forced out of the flipper in the direction indicated by the arrow 32. Each time the doughnut flipper turns 180 a new doughnut is forced into it and a finished doughnut is forced out of it.

The doughnuts may be manually fed to the flipper and the shaft It! could be manually turned for operating the flipper.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

A doughnut flipper, comprising a shaft, a pair of blocks mounted in spaced positions upon said shaft, a pair of strips positioned on opposite sides of said shaft and extending parallel to the axis of said shaft and mounted upon said blocks, a set of wire loops in spaced parallel planes transversely of said shaft and projecting to one side of said shaft and mounted on said pair of strips in order to form a wire loop tubular section through which doughnuts may pass, and a second set of wire loops in spaced parallel planes transversely of said shaft and projecting to the other side of said shaft and mounted on said pair of strips in order to form a second wire loop tubular section through which doughnuts may pass.

EUGENE JOSEPH DUVAL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

